The most abundant signed cards in 2014 Topps Platinum Football are the Autograph Rookie Refractors that land two per hobby box. Originally all were supposed to be on-card but some have ended up on stickers. Like the base set, there are lots of Refractor parallels: Black, Blue (#/99), Pulsar (#/50), Purple (#/25), Gold (#/15), BCA Pink (#/10), STS Camo (#/10), Red (#/5) and Superfractors (1/1). Rookie autographs also have hobby-exclusive Printing Plates.

The one-per-box Autograph Rookie Refractor Patch cards use pieces of player-worn memorabilia and sticker signatures. Sticking with the parallel theme, there are lots here as well, all numbered. These include Black (#/125), Green (#/99), Pulsar (#/50), Blue (#/25), Purple (#/10), Red (#/5) and Superfractors (1/1). There are also a handful of additional one-of-one Red Refractors that come with distinct pieces like the NFL Shield, team logo, pigskin and NFL glove.

A limited number of veterans get similar autographed patch cards. Parallels are Purple (#/25), Pulsar (#/15), Gold (#/10), Red (#/5) and Superfractor (1/1).

Autographed Refractor Platinum Patch cards feature both rookies and veterans. Numbered to 5, they have jumbo patch swatches and use sticker signatures.

Platinum Rookie Patches are numbered cards than come with a jumbo patch. These are inserted one per case and exclusive to hobby.

With so many autographs and parallels, there isn't much room in 2014 Topps Platinum Football for many basic inserts. Platinum Die-Cut Rookies land one per box. These have one-of-one autograph versions as well. Die-Cut STS and BCA Ribbon cards return as case hits. Both can be found with autographed versions that are numbered to 10.

2014 Topps Platinum Football Product Review

Bad: Some sticker autographs, doesn’t really stand out versus other similar products.

The Bottom Line: Topps Platinum continues the same formula from previous years. There is not a ton of variety with only one insert per box and it still seems odd to not extend the Refractor technology found on all rookies to the veteran players. Three guaranteed hits normally results in two on-card autographs per box, but some stickers fill out the rookie Refractor autograph checklist.

Staff Rating:

2.9 / 5.0

Card Design: 3.25/5.0

There is nothing special about the base design for 2014 Topps Platinum, but it is hard to really find anything wrong with with it. Given the Chrome technology on the rookie cards, the veteran base cards feel a little cheap in comparison and it muddles the brand continuity. In all honesty, despite featuring the same design, it is still hard for me to process that they both come from the same product.

The one veteran parallel per pack seems like filler more than anything else and I don’t quite understand why it has a thicker card stock versus the base cards. However, the rookie Refractors feature a quality look. In my opinion, it would more appealing if a better range of colors fell in each box versus only five X-Fractors and one Black Refractor, on average.

While the die-cut insert has become a staple of many Topps products, at just one per box, I still am more impressed than indifferent to them. I would like to see more than one insert in a box containing 100 cards.

It is nice that the rookie autographed patch cards fall one per box, but the sticker is a major bummer. This is especially true when the other two hits are signed on-card. Also, this year marks a change from 2013 as the rookie autographed patches are not numbered.

Checklist: 3.0/5.0

Once again, Ben Roethlisberger is not included in the base set in a 2014 Topps product. This may not be an issue for most people, but it is a curious thing that Topps has seemingly bumped his base cards from most of their products this year.

When it comes to the rookie autographs, all the big names are there. But since the primary autographs are not numbered, there is really no way of knowing which players are short prints and there are plenty of duds to pull. If you are looking for veteran autographs, there are only a handful of options and an odd mix of players.

Value: 2.5/5.0

The main thing that 2014 Topps Platinum has going for it is the rookie Refractors and on-card autographs. Since you get three signed cards per box for around $70 to $80, the potential is there. But when you sprinkle in stickers and a bunch of less than desirable subjects, you are left with more of a gamble. I think of it as Chrome-lite. The same basic pieces are there, but the brand itself is not as valuable or popular.

The Fun Factor: 3.0/5.0

On-card autographs and Refractors are fun. Filler parallels and lower-quality base cards, not so much. Almost entirely base and parallels, it can get a little stale with the lack of variety. While the product is simple, the refined look of the rookie cards and on-cards autographs keep things interesting.

2014 Topps Platinum Football Cards, reviewed by Ryan Cracknell on 2014-12-16T15:54:55+00:00 rating 2.9 out of 5

Ryan Cracknell | E-Mail AuthorRyan is a former member of The Cardboard Connection Writing Staff.His collecting origins began with winter bike rides to the corner store, tossing a couple of quarters onto the counter and peddling home with a couple packs of O-Pee-Chee hockey in his pocket. Today, he continues to build sets, go after inserts with cool technologies, chase Montreal Expos and finish off his John Jaha master collection.

Joined a case break for Steelers with bomberbreaks, got 2 Ryan shazier base auto redemptions and a rob blanchflower black auto #/150 that was a sticker not on-card… I thought all rookies were suppose to be on card? That’s why I bought into this. Saw darqueze dennard sticker auto too +others.

Worse case ever, no BCA Pink, No Camo, autograph rookie cards that were suppose to be hard signed some or stickers. Rookies none in top 10. I was very disappointed in the case. I waited for 6 months for this case because locked in the price. I have always purchased topps but I think this will be my last, I will be going with Panini.

This set is garbage – the non-auto cards have no resale value compared to Topps Chrome even though they retail for about the same price per unopened box and tons of Topps Platinum cards each year end up finding their way to Fairfield re-packs (unlike Topps Chrome) which is NOT a good sign.

for the Canadian buyers who pay about $600 more for a case then ppl in the states the re sell value is bad, Topps finest was bad too this year, good thing this company lost is licensing rights to the NFL also too many redemptions ( I only got 3 in my case of Platinum but 15 in Finest, and the collation is bad too, BYE TOPPS lost me as a fan cause of finest and Platinum

Thus continues the Topps product identity crisis. This product looks and feels like a finest product.
I am a fan of baseball and the now discontinued UFC finest but hated the FB entry.
Platinum seem to make up ground for the failed finest product at a cheaper than finest price which makes it a 3 * product for me.

However for a mid season release, why are players like Taj Boyd still in the cards? He was cut before beginning of the season.. Stuff like this waters down the value of the product and frustrates collectors like me when one of your hits is a player that is FAR from the NFL…

I’ve seen everything from entry level products up to the most popular products like Topps Chrome. Today, with Topps Platinum, I took a chance. Besides the inserts/parallels, I’ve found a product that I knew looked pretty good. Of course, this just my humble opinion.

The card stock is not as up to par as Chrome is. I wonder why, especially when Platinum is touted a step ahead of Chrome by a very small margin. It’s just not as popular as Chrome, but what is? I do like the usual retail exclusive orange parallel, it’s called orange flame cards this year, I just don’t see it. Can you? With nice die cuts and the usual X-Fractors, this years design has at the very least made it’s debut a little better without too much of a compromise as last years Platinum. You be the judge.

2 hobby boxes – 6 autos. Not a single one I’d remotely consider letting linger around in my pc. No other # parallels pulled. 2 redemptions. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking giving this garbage a shot!

Great cards. Opened almost 3 value boxes and I have gotten 5 xrefractors 2 die cut rookies and great veterans in the packs. Love the parallels. Blue wave. Black wave. And so much more it all looks awesome with potentially some good value.

Bought 2 boxes. First box, pulled an ODB auto patch (2 color, rebook logo I believe but hard to tell) #’d/50 (forget exactly which number atm) and that was about it. Second box, only got ONE rookie auto TOTAL (at least it was a Seastrunk Red 5/5, so I guess that’s at least promising?). Nevertheless disappointing based on the claim that each box has 1 Auto Patch and 2 Rookie Autos. That said, overall I still like the product and upside it offers.

Have had amazing luck with this product! Have opened 4 boxes and have gotten Jarvis Landry Patch Auto
Jace Amaro Patch Auto /25
Ka’Deem Carey Patch Auto /150
Devonta Freeman Patch Auto /150
Devonta Freeman Purple Refractor Auto /25
Shaq Evans Auto
Brandin Cooks Black Refractor Auto /150
Ryan Shazier Auto
And a few other no names.
I am happy about this product for I have been so lucky while opening it! It is highly recommended by me and I enjoy opening it. It’s a good product if you are a hit-seeker/auto collector of any players.

anyone in the know have a clue how long Panini signed an exclusive liscense deal with the NFL?
Miss days of pulling RPA’a from UD sp auth. in football & getting nasty nfl team patches on thick stock.
Now no Chrome,Platinum,Finest,etc. Seems like every brand Panini comes up with is a college version and a nfl version or keep upping the price points on hobby boxes.
pretty soon only way to acquire cards is gonna be buying singles or rolling dice in group breaks. I drew line at 200 a hobby box a long time ago..